Overshoe.



W. N. STBUART.

OVERSHOE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2, 1910.

a n I l a a H N Z mu A m2 W N w A WILIVIOT N. STEUART, OF BROOKFIELD,OHIO.

OVERSI-IOE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 18, 1912.

Application filed November 2, 1910. Serial No. 590,307.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, VViLMor N. STEUART,citizen of the United States, residing at Brookfield, in the county ofTrumbull and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Overshoes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an innorovement in an overshoe and is directedprimarily to means for preventing the accidental re moval of the shoe.In carrying out this object, in addition to the grip on the shoe due tothe elasticity of the overshoe, I employ a reinforcing member adapted todraw the upper part of the overshoe together after the foot is insertedin it and lock it in such position.

A still further object is to have a reinforcing member anchored in thatpart of the overshoe that will give it a direct grip on an opposingangle of the shoe.

Still further objects and purposes of my invention will appear from aninspection of the drawing, the specification describing the same, andthe claims appended thereto.

Referring now to the drawing in which is shown one of the possibleembodiments of my invention; Figure 1 is a side view of an overshoeconstructed in accordance with my invention, showing the reinforcingtape in outline. Fig. 2 is a rear view of the overshoe constructed as inFig. 1. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 show the rear vent in the overshoe as closedby the fastening means employed.

Referring now to the several figures in which like reference charactersdesignate like parts, (1) is a conventional form of overshoe having avent (3) of V shaped form in the upper rear part. Connecting the twosides of the vent is a folded fabric (2) of waterproof duck, canvas, orother suitable material. Extending from one side of the vent down infront of the heel across under the instep and back to the other side ismy reinforcing tape or member 4). This tape may be either woven into theovershoe body or applied to the canvas body before it is water-proofed.On the end of the tape which lies in the overlapping portion (7 of theovershoe, I provide two snap fastener sockets (5) and (6) which arespaced a given distance from each other. On the other side of the ventfrom which the portion (7 extends, I provide the snap fastener posts(11) and (12) which are spaced from each other a less distance than thespace between the fastener sockets. It will be noted that the tape,where it extends toward the front of the heel, is angled at 8 and 9 sothat any force applied to the ends of the tape will be exerted againstthe front side of the heel of the inner shoe. I so locate my tape forthe reason that when the pressure is exerted against the ends, theovershoe itself is not damaged by the tape tending to pull it out ofsha'pe as will happen where the tape is embedded in the overshoe at thetop or forward part of the instep. Moreover, the resisting strength ofthe tape is not dependent on the strength of the overshoe but solely onthe strength of the tape itself and the resisting surface of the shoeheel. The fabric (2) is extended upwardly at (13) to form a tongue bywhich the overshoe may be drawn on.

By the arrangement of the fastener posts and sockets above described, myshoe can be fastened giving four varying widths of the vent, as moreclearly brought out by reference to Figs. 3 to 5. It will thus be seenfrom the foregoing that when the foot is inserted in the overshoe andthe tape fastened at the rear at a suitable width, the top of theovershoe is locked above the heel and by reason of the forward part ofthe strap bearing against the front face of the shoe heel, the grip ispositive and effective with the minimum amount of strain on the overshoebody proper.

I am aware of prior development in the art in which a tape havingsimilar function to my own is used but in the art as noW known, thistape is anchored in the forward part of the instep and is dependent forits strength on the strength of the overshoe body proper.

I claim:

1. In an overshoe, an approximately V- shaped vent formed in the upperrear portion of the counter, one side of said overshoe extending oversald V-shaped vent and providing an overlapping portion therefor, afolded fabric connecting the two sides of said V-shaped vent, a tapeconnected at one end to said extended portion and extend ing down andacross in front of the heel and up to the other side of said vent andmeans for fastening said extended portion to the opposite side of thevent, substantially as described.

2. In an overshoe, an approximately V- shaped vent formed in the upperrear porfastening the extended portion of the overshoe to the oppositeside of the vent Whereby the overshoe is held firmly against the shoe,as and for the-purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WV. N. STEUART.

' WVitnesses:

EUGENE E. ANDERSON, CHAs. H. HOAR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

